Toe-weight



(No Model.) I

W? H. MEASURES.

TOE WEIGHT.

No. 530,545. Patented Dec. 11,1894.

TENS ca. Pucraurno, WASHXNGTON o z.

.UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. MEASURES, OF STONEHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

TOE-WEIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 530,545, dated December 11, 1894. Application filed May 31,1894. Serial No. 512,991 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MEASURES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stoneham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Toe-Weights-for Horses, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates to toe-weights adapted to be secured to the hoofs of horses, especially racing horses, for the purpose of increasing the length of the throw of the feet, and it is intended to be an improvement over the toe-weights now in use in respect to construction, firmness and quickness of adjustability, application and removal. I

The nature of the improvement is fully described below, and illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which Figure 1 represents my improved toe-weight in position on the front of a horses hoof. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear View of the Weight proper removed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base or holder.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

a represents a portion of a horses hoof.

This toe-weight comprises two principal portions, viz.: the base and the weight proper. The base is screwed on to the hoof and may remain there as long as desired. The weight is adapted to be quickly applied and locked to the base and removed at will. Weights of different sizes may be applied to the frame as desired, a single frame being adapted to receive difierent weights. The base consists essentially of the central and nearly vertical dove-tailed shaped portion A, and the wings B which are provided with screw-holes B through which screws are inserted to attach the base to the hoof. The portion A has a long groove or recess 0 produced by the raised sides D and lower end wallD'. The upper end of this groove is not closed, and it hasa distinct depression 0' near its upper terminus.

The weight proper consists of the ball E provided on its rear side with a substantially vertical dovetailed groove F in which lies longitudinally a spring H. The lower end of this spring is secured at h to the lower portion of the groove, while the upper portion of this spring is provided with a curvature II which corresponds in shape with the depression 0 in the groove 0. A horizontal shoulder E is formed on the rear surface of the ball E as shown.

In practice, the base A is secured to the hoof in the desired position. A weight or ball E of the proper size is selected and pushed down by means of its groove F over the central portion A of the base until the shoulder E strikes the upper edges of the wings B. As the weight is forced down the curved portion H of the spring H crowds into the depression 0 in the groove 0, and by this means, in connection with the dove-tailed shape of the part A and groove F, the weight or ball is securely locked in position and cannot be jarred out. To remove it a simple upward pressure on the under side of the ball is suificient.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein described improved toe-weight, consisting essentially of the base provided with the dove-tailed central portion A grooved at O and said groove being provided with the depression 0, and the ball or weight proper E provided with the dove-tailed groove F and spring H in said groove, said spring having the curvature H corresponding with said depression, substantially as described.

WILLIAM H. MEASURES.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, J. M. HARTNETT. 

